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Would you like a cockroach with that?

Tuesday, 15 June 2010

Would you like a cockroach with that?

The Popular Lowenbrau Keller eatery and bar in The Rocks has been fined $660 after inspectors from City of Sydney Council found a dead cockroach in flour.

They also detected other evidence of cockroach activity in the Argyle St restaurant’s kitchen and prosecuted the Bavarian Hospitality Group, which owns the business.

It has now been added to the NSW Food Authority’s name and shame list for “failing to take all practicable measures to eradicate and prevent the harbourage of pests’‘.

A further 29 restaurants were added to the list last week after collectively receiving 43 fines.

The Gordon Chicken Shop, in Gordon, was slapped with two $330 fines for allowing smoking in the food preparation area and for having unclean premises.

Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said: “Food outlets need to be aware that it’s an offence to smoke not only in the public dining areas, but also in the kitchen, food preparation and storage areas.

“Consumers have the right to dine in a healthy environment and to know that their meals have been properly prepared.’‘

Other restaurants included Pho 76, at Prairiewood, which received four fines for improperly storing food, having dirty premises and inadequate pest control.

Penrith’s Nepean Patisserie had to pay three $330 fines for having dirty premises and evidence of cockroach activity, while the Hong Ha Bakery, at Botany, was fined $990 for waste accumulation, poor food storage and insufficient hand washing facilities.

The Thai Thyme restaurant at Erina was fined $660 by Gosford Council after inspectors found dirt, grease and cockroaches in the kitchen.

Cabramatta’s Tuong Lai Restaurant also received three $330 fines for an accumulation of grease and grime, poor food storage and having an obstructed hand basin.